As many as 1,662 defamatory websites and contents were blocked by social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter following requests from law enforcement agencies, Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on 24 July.

Facebook has blocked 956 URLs against requests for 1,076 URLs, Twitter 409 URLs against 728 requests and YouTube 152 URLs against 182 requests, Ahir said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The Union Minister of State for Home said law enforcement agencies monitor the web and social media and take appropriate action for blocking such unlawful content under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The government holds meetings with intermediaries from time to time for strengthening the cooperation framework to ensure better compliance, he said.